670 shoplifting cases go unsolved a day as shop workers face ‘Christmas crime wave’

EMBARGO: 00.01 Monday December 23, 2024

670 shoplifting cases go unsolved a day as shop workers face ‘Christmas crime wave’

The Liberal Democrats have warned that shop workers are facing a ‘Christmas crime wave’ as new figures show a record 670 shoplifting incidents per day went unsolved last year.

The House of Commons Library analysis shows that in the year to March 2024, 245,500 shoplifting cases were closed without a suspect being identified, an average of 672 per day. This is a staggering 38% increase on the 178,432 shoplifting incidents that went unsolved in the same period five years ago.

Overall, more than half (56.4%) of shoplifting cases were closed because no suspect was identified, compared to 48.9% five years ago.

The Liberal Democrats warned that frontline shop workers were facing thieves acting with impunity because they know police are unlikely to properly investigate.

Only about one in six (17.2%) of cases resulted in a suspect being charged or summoned, down from one in five (21.2%) five years ago.

There are also worrying reports that shopkeepers are having to make citizen’s arrests due to the increase in shoplifting.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ensure a proper return to community policing, with officers having the time and resources they need to focus on keeping their local neighborhoods safe, including shop staff.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

“Shop workers are experiencing a Christmas crime wave as shoplifters act with impunity and many crimes are effectively legalized by the shocking negligence of the previous Conservative government.

“The new government must get to grips with this shoplifting epidemic and the hardworking frontline retail staff must be assured that they will not be further let down.

“That must start with ministers ensuring officers actually have the time and resources to focus on their local neighborhoods and keep shop workers safe. Until that happens, our communities will not see the proper community policing they deserve.”

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